The hits just keep coming for the Kings: Randy Jones joins walking wounded
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Another day, another player lost to injury for the Kings.
Defenseman Randy Jones won’t play tonight at Calgary in the finale of the team’s three-day Canadian trip because of a stiff neck and headache he suffered after colliding with Edmonton’s Dustin Penner on Tuesday. Defenseman Alec Martinez, recalled from Manchester, arrived in Calgary late Wednesday and will replace him in the lineup.
‘It’s got to be a precautionary move with this one and keep him out and get him back to practice on Monday, hopefully,’ Coach Terry Murray said of Jones.
Center Jarret Stoll (sore groin) was unable to take part in the morning skate Thursday and will miss his second straight game. Murray said the injury needed attention: ‘He’s just lacking a lot of strength in his groin,’ he said.
And defenseman Jack Johnson, who was struck on the foot by a shot Tuesday, is wearing a protective boot and won’t play.
Tonight’s game ends a stretch of 10 games in 17 days in six cities for the Kings, and given the constant stream of injuries, it’s remarkable that they’re 7-1-1 so far. After tonight, they don’t play again until Dec. 26 at Phoenix, and although Murray said he’d rather play a few more games before Christmas, the break is well-timed for the injured players.
‘From the first of December, we played a pretty compressed bunch of games there. It’s been a lot of important games in our division, our conference. The workload has been great,’ Murray said. ‘So once we do get through this one, I might say, ‘Hey, it’s a break that we need.’ With the number of guys that we have on the sidelines right now, I think it’s pretty fortunate that we’re going to be able to get through seven, eight days without any games and have these guys ready to go back on the lineup on the 26th.’
Martinez was paired with Davis Drewiske in the morning skate. Rob Scuderi was paired with Drew Doughty and Sean O’Donnell with Matt Greene.
The lines were the same as against Edmonton: Alexander Frolov-Anze Kopitar-Dustin Brown; Brad Richardson-Michal Handzus-Dustin Brown; Scott Parse-Corey Elkins-Peter Harrold; and Raitis Ivanans-Oscar Moller-Teddy Purcell. Jonathan Quick will start in goal.
More later at www.latimes.com/sports
-- Helene Elliott, from Calgary, Canada